The way you start your day has a huge impact on the way the rest of your day goes. It wasn’t until I started being more intentional about my morning habits and creating a morning routine that I really started to see this more clearly. After just a few weeks of tweaking and developing the right morning routine for me, I realized it was one of the most important steps I could have taken for my mental health and the overall quality of my daily life. If I could go back, I would have created a morning routine a lot sooner. That’s why I’m encouraging you to start now—because I know you won’t regret it!
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Does a Morning Routine Mean Waking Up at 5 AM?
When I first tell people the benefits of a morning routine, a lot of people assume that it will mean they have to wake up at 5 AM. That’s what it meant for me at first and that’s what I thought was the key, but after a while, I learned that it wasn’t about the time, but the actual routine.
The reality is that a good routine isn’t just about waking up early; it’s about setting yourself up for a productive day. Your perfect morning routine may not look like mine, but the goal is the same: to create a positive impact on your day. Depending on how much time you have in the mornings before your daily responsibilities begin (school, work, mom life, etc.), you might not even need to walk up earlier. You might just need to make some changes to what you do with the time you already have. Otherwise, it’s typically most beneficial if you wake up just one hour earlier than normal. There’s so much that can change in just that one hour!
A good morning routine will:
- Boost happiness
- Increase productivity
- Reduce stress
- Help you feel grounded and ready to face the day
Starting your day intentionally is crucial. Your morning ritual could look very different from mine or anyone else’s and still have a profound impact on your mental clarity and energy levels.
My Morning Routine: How and Why I Created It
Before I started my routine, I was in a cycle of chaotic mornings, hitting the snooze button multiple times, and feeling rushed and overwhelmed for the rest of the day. I was working a job outside of the home as well as running two blogs and working to start my nutrition coaching business. I would quickly get ready, skip breakfast, and rush out, only to feel disorganized and unproductive for the entire day. Then I would come home and feel overwhelmed by all of the things I still needed to do and many things would not get done. Does this sound familiar?
Eventually, I realized that my morning was setting the tone for the rest of my day. I needed a better plan. That’s when I discovered The Miracle Morning, a book that changed my approach. I’m not saying you need to read it to transform your mornings, but it’s what inspired me to create my own routine.
My Morning Routine at a Glance
The Miracle Morning is all about “transforming your life before 8 AM.” I started getting up at 5 AM. It wasn’t easy and took over a year to make it a habit. My schedule is a bit unconventional since I juggle multiple jobs, but here’s what my routine looked like for the first few years:
- 5:00 AM: Wake up, start my coffee, and let the dog out
- 5:15-6:00 AM: Bible study and quiet time
- 6:00-8:30 AM: Priority work tasks for freelance work
- 8:30-9:00 AM: See my husband off to work
- 9:00 AM: Have a healthy breakfast, clean up, and get ready for my job outside of the home
What I loved most about my routine at that time is that before I even left for my workday at my job outside of the home, most of my important freelance work tasks were already done, leaving my evenings free for whatever I wanted or needed to do. As my work and life circumstances changed over the years, my routine has changed too. These days I still work a couple of different jobs, but I am completely self-employed. That means my schedule has a lot more flexibility than it used to, so my morning routine starts about an hour later (unless I have more work than usual).
Creating Your Own Morning Routine
Depending on what you do for work or what your days usually entail, your morning routine will look much different than mine. The most important thing is that you are taking pressure off the rest of your day. I find that front-loading your day, meaning getting the most and most important things done first thing, has the most benefits overall. When you’re creating your own successful morning routine, be strategic. Here are some steps to help you get started:\
Start of the Day With What Matters Most:
Focus on what truly matters to you. For me, this is bible study. When I start my day with God, I find that my days are so much better. It’s also much easier to get this quiet time in before everyone else wakes up or before you start your day and get distracted.
Identify Important Tasks:
Determine what the most daunting tasks are for you, and aim to tackle them first. Whether it’s a work assignment or something like prepping dinner, cleaning up the house, or working out, getting those things out of the way early will free you up mentally for the rest of the day.
Plan for Obstacles:
Think about what typically throws your day off. So much of what makes creating a morning routine successful is prepping some things the night before. Are there ways to plan ahead to make things easier? Maybe laying out workout or work clothes the night before, moving your alarm clock far away from your bed so you can’t hit snooze easily, setting your coffee to brew at wake time, or whatever it is you need to make mornings easier.
Sleep and Wake-Up Time:
Assess how much sleep you’re getting and adjust your wake-up time accordingly. Aim for 7-8 hours of sleep; studies show this is optimal for good health and maintaining your circadian rhythm. When I decided to start waking up at 5 AM, one of the main factors that helped convince me was that I realized I was actually sleeping much longer than I needed to and I could use those extra hours to get some things done in the morning. At first, I was so sleepy, but I resisted naps and giving in to sleeping later or going to bed earlier. After just a few days I started feeling so much better all around.
Daily Rituals:
Establish simple, consistent daily rituals that set the tone for your day. Whether it’s a glass of water first thing, a quick brisk walk to get your blood flowing, or writing out a to-do list, these little things can have a big impact.
Start Small and Build a New Habit
Remember, the key to creating a morning routine is consistency. Start with one or two changes, like waking up at the same time every day or incorporating a morning exercise. As you get more comfortable, add more elements to your routine. Whether you’re a morning person or a night owl, creating a morning routine that works for you will have a positive impact on your daily life and help you feel more productive, every single day.
Just take the first step towards a consistent morning routine and you’ll set yourself up for a successful day and, ultimately, a more balanced life. It all starts with what you do first thing in the morning—so start today and see the transformation for yourself!
Other Posts You Might Find Helpful:
What Does Intentionality Mean in the Bible?
Choosing What You Value Most Over What You Want Now
Setting Boundaries as a Christian
